Fluting and plaiting device.



Z. MITCHELL. FLUTING AND PLAITI NG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.22, 19l5. 1,210,346. Patented Dec. 26,1916.

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FLUTING AND PLAITING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 1915.

1,210,346. Patented Dec. 26,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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FLUTING AND PLAITING DEVICE. APPLICATiON EILED NOV. 22. 1915.

1 ,2 1 0,346. Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

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ZULAH MITCHELL, OF SELIGMAN, MISSOURI.

FLUTING AND PLAITING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed November 22, 1915. Serial N 0. 62,875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZULAH MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seligman, in the county of Barry and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fluting and Plaiting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine or device for use in fiuting and plaiting fabrics, and one of its objects is to provide a device of this character which is adapted for making different kinds of fluting and plaiting, and which is self adjusting to any thickness of cloth or fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluting and plaiting device wherein the fluting needles are readily insertible and removable from the frame of the device, and wherein the needles are held for automatic adjustment to provide for the insertion of the cloth as well as to insure the firm gripping of the cloth, so that the device may be readily reversed side for side from a flute or plait forming to a flute 0r plait ironing position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluting and plaiting machine which permits of the formation of different depths of flutes or plaits. which enables the needles to be removed without rumbling the work. and in connection with which fiuting or plaiting knives of a kind may be used to insure the ready spreading of the needles to admit the cloth in an easy and accurate manner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, of the obverse side of the device. showing a portion of fabric disposed in position for a fluting or plaiting operation. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking toward the lower end of the device. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the device. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device. with parts broken away and in section, and also showing the knives in working position. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrating the mode of ironing the flutes or plaits. Fig. 7 is a view of the reverse side of the device and showing the frame partly: opened for the removal of the needles and fluted or plaited cloth. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but with the frame closed, and illustrating the mode of applying the needles. Figs. 9 and 10 are side elevations of the knives. Fig 11 is a sectional view through one of the knives. Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are views illustrating different kinds of fiuting or plaiting which may be done.

The device comprises an open frame 1 of rectangular or oblong rectangular form and consisting of side pieces 2 and 3 and top and bottom or end pieces L and 5. The side pieces 2 and 3 are U-shaped or channeled in cross section, and have their channeled sides facing each other to form guideways and keepers receiving the ends of the needles 6. Filler tubes or rods 7 are disposed within the bights or folds of these channeled side pieces to reinforce the same and reduce the width of the channel, and to form abutment surfaces against which the ends of the needles may easily bear and ride, the construction being such as to obviate any liability of the ends of the needles hanging or binding in the folds of the channels. The fillers are held in position in any suitable manner as by providing them with pits'or recesses to receive indented portions 8 upon the side pieces, it being understood, of course, that the side pieces, as well as the other portions of the frame, are preferably made of sheet metal bent or otherwise given the required form.

The needles 6 are shown in the present instance as consisting of circular rods or tubes, which are disposed in parallel relation and extend entirely across the open frame between the side pieces. The lower needle of the series bears in practice against the lower cross piece 5, while the upper needle of the series lies in contact with and is engaged by a transverse follower piece or bar 9, which also extends across the frame and has its end portions arranged to move within the guideways of the channeled side pieces. The follower bar 9 is also U shaped or channeled, and has its channeled side facing the top piece 4 and receiving the curved or bent ends 10 of a bowed pressure spring 11, which is fitted within the space at the top of the frame between the bars 4 and 9 and at its central portion engages .a retaining hook 12 carried by a bracket 13 fastened to the bar 4 whereby the spring may be easily applied and removed as occasion requires. The function of this spring 11 is to hold the needles closed together, but in abutting relation while permitting of their separation to receive the folds of the cloth or fabric 14, as hereinafter fully described.

"For the purpose of holding the parts of the frame assembled in such a way as to provide a stanch and durable construction while admitting of the ready insertion and removal of the needles and coacting parts, the ends of the bars 4 and 5 which are fitted within one of the side bars, as the side bar 3, are squared and rigidly secured within said side bar by suitable fastenings, such as rivets 15. The end of the bar 4 which fits within the upper end of the bar 2 is also squared, but is detachably connected with the bar 2, as by providing it with a keeper opening 16 to receive a headed fastening pin 17, the headed end of which is disposed upon the obverse face of the bar 2, said pin passing through an opening 18 in the upper or front wall of said bar. The end of the bar 5 which fits within the lower end of the bar 2 is curved or rounded, as shown at 19, and is pivotally connected with the bar 2 by a fastening pin or rivet 20, such construction adapting the bar 2 to swing outwardly and inwardly on the rivet 20 as a center, for the purpose of opening and closing the frame for the admission and the removal of the needles, the pin 17 when applied serving to hold the bar 2 closed and providing with the other pins or rivets 15 and 20 fastening connections which hold the closed frame absolutely rigid.

For the purpose of supporting or holding the frame elevated above a table or other supporting surface 21 on which it rests, brackets 22, 23, 24 and 25 are provided at the respective corners of the frame, and each of these brackets consists of a metallic plate having an inner end portion 26 and an outer end portion 27 connected by an ofiset intermediate portion 28, disposing the portions 26 and27 in different horizontal but parallel planes. The portions 26 of the brackets 22 and 23, which constitute in effect supporting feet, are rigidly fastened at their corners of the frame by the rivets 15, while the brackets 24 and 25 are pivotally mounted upon their respective fastening pins-or rivets 17 and 20, so that they maybe normally disposed in a position parallel with and beyond the ends of the bar 2, while they may, be swung outwardly at right angles to said. bar, the

bracket 24 to clear the pin 17 and the bracket 25 to permit of the free pivotal movement of the bar 2. \Vhen in normal position the bracket 24 overlies the pin 17 and serves as a spring, latch to hold the same in proper position, but upon swinging the bracket 24 aside, the pin 17may be released, as will be readily understood. The ends 27 of all the brackets have threaded openings to receive supporting and adjusting screws 29 provided with milled adjusting heads 30, which screws may rest upon or fit within threaded openings in the table or surface 21, whereby the device as a whole may be supported at different elevations above the surface of the table to regulate the depth of the flutes or plaits to be made in the cloth or fabric 14.

. In the practical use of the device the needles are placed in position as shown in Fig. 1, with the obverse side uppermost, and the cloth fabric 14 which is to be fluted or plaited is then laid over the upper surfaces of the needles 6, which portions of the fabric are forced downward in the form of folds 14, which constitute the flutes or plaits, through the spaces between adjacent needles, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 4, until the required number of flutes or plaits are made, the depth or sizes of the flutes or plaits being governed by the distance between the frame and the surface 21, which is regulated by the adjustment of the screws 29. The device is then reversed or turned over so as to dispose its reverse side uppermost, so that the flutes or plaits may be ironed down by means of a heated sadiron, as shown in Fig. 6. The work of fluting or plaiting being completed, the brackets 24 and 25 are then swung laterally, the pin 17 released and-the bar 2 swung outwardly to open position, thusexposing the adjacent ends of the needles, which may be grasped in convenient numbers and drawn endwise from the flutes or plaits, thus permitting the needles to be disengaged without rumpling the fabric. In theoperation of forcing the folds 14 through the spaces between the needles 6, it will be understood that the spring 11 will permit the needles to spread for the passage of the fabric and then will close the spread needles together to hold the fabric confined. For convenience in forming the plaits or folds, blades 31 and 32, of the type shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are preferably employed, each of these blades consisting of a blade body 32 proper having thickened or ribbed ends 33, designed to effectually force the needles apart, said blades having their upper edges inclined in opposite directions and provided with gripping ribs or bars 34. In their use one of the blades is held in the right hand and the other in the left hand and one blade is employed to force the fabric down between adjacent needles, while the other blade is then employed to force the fabric down between the next adjacent needles, and so on throughout the series, one blade holding the formed fold of the fabric against withdrawal while another fold is being formed by the other blade. The reversely inclined upper edges of the blades will, it is obvious, provide for their ready and convenient manipulation in regular order without interference one from the other.

In Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive I have shown some of the many and various forms of flutes or plaits which may be made by the use of various forms of blades or by varying the depth of the folds, by ironing the folds down to a greater or lesser extent, or by skipping and arranging the folds in groups of any suitable number, the invention being in this particular of manifest advantage over one wherein the forming operation is the same or invariable at all times.

In applying the needles for use again after they have been once removed, the open frame is closed, and preferably disposed with its obverse side up, and a sheet 35 of cardboard or the like placed against that side of the frame which is undermost, so that the needles may be brought to rest thereon while they are being inserted. In inserting the needles a handful or bunch of needles, of any convenient number, is laid upon the sheet 35 in a diagonal position, as shown by the upper bunch of needles in Fig. 8, and then removed down to the position illustrated by the intermediate bunch of needles, so as to insert the needles at one end into the channel of one side strip, after which the needles are brought to a straight transverse position, to bring their opposite ends into the channel of the other side strip, thus allowing a number of needles to be inserted at a time, so that the operation of refilling the frame with needles may be readily, conveniently and quickly performed, thus overcoming an objection to fluting and plaiting devices in which the needles must be in serted singly.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use of my improved fiuting and plaiting device will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention provides a device of this character which is not only simple of construction, but inexpensive of production, and which insures accurate, ready and convenient fluting or plaiting in different ways of fabrics of clifferent sizes within the range of the device, and which, by reason. of the capability of ready insertion and removal of parts, facilitates the work of preparing the device for use and in plaiting or fluting the fabric.

While the construction disclosed is preferred, it will, of course, be understood'that modifications within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim l. A. device of the character described comprising an open rectangular frame having guideways along the sides thereof, said frame including a side bar hinged for opening and closing movements, needles slidably fitted in the guideways of the frame, a spring actuated follower movable in said guideways, and means for locking the hinged side bar in closed condition.

2. A device of the character described comprising an open rectangular frame formed of side bars and end pieces connecting said side bars, said side bars being provided with guideways, and one of the side bars being hinged for opening and closing movements, means for locking said hinged bar in closed position, needles detachably engaging the guideways in the side bars, a follower movable in the guideways and arranged tohold the needles in compact condition, and a spring yieldingly backing the follower.

3. A device of the character described comprising an open rectangular frame and formed of side bars and end pieces connecting said side bars, said side bars being provided with guideways and one of the side bars being hinged for opening and closing movements, means for securing said side bar in closed position, needles slidably engaging the guideways, a spring pressed follower for yieldingly holding the needles in position against separation, and adjustable supports carried by said brackets for adjustably mounting the frame upon a base support.

4. A device of i the character described comprising an open rectangular frame having guideways therein, and provided with a hinge section movable to open and close the frame, needles fitted in the guideways of the frame, a follower movable in said guideways and arranged to hold the needles in a compact condition, and a spring detachably connected with the frame and bearing on said follower.

5. A device of the character described comprising an open rectangular frame formed of channeled side bars and end pieces connecting said bars, one of said side bars being hinged for opening and closing move ments, means for locking said hinged bar in closed position, needles detachably engaging the guideways formed by the channels in the side bars. a follower movable in said guideways and arranged to hold the needles in compact condition, and a spring detachably connected with one of the end pieces and yieldingly backing the follower.

6. A device of the character described comprising an open rectangular frame formed of channeled side bars, and end pieces connecting said side bars, one of said side bars being hinged for opening and ried by said brackets for adjustably mountclosing movements, means for securing said ing the frame upon a base support. 0 side bar in closed position, needles engaging In testimony whereof I affiX my signature the guideways formed by the channels of in presence of tWo Witnesses.

." the side bars, a spring pressed follower for ZULAH MITCHELL.

yieldingly holding the needles in position Witnesses: against separation, brackets at the corners R. G. MITCHELL, of the frame, and adjustable supports car CLARA JoNEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

